Mark Hughes has issued a hands-off warning to Manchester United over his captain Ryan Shawcross, a January target for the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s desperate search for defensive cover looks set to continue, as Mark Hughes yesterday categorically denied that Ryan Shawcross would be allowed to leave.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s game against Swansea, Hughes firmly rebuffed the rumours linking his captain to the Red Devils.
“There’s been no contact and I don’t expect there to be any, and we wouldn’t encourage any contact anyway,” Hughes is quoted as saying in the Daily Star. “Ryan is very settled here, he is the captain of the club and we have no intention of allowing him to leave. He’s a big part of what we want to do in the future.”
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Shawcross has been exceptional for Stoke over the last few seasons, and has been one of the main reasons that they’ve been able to succeed in the Premier League since their promotion in 2008. It’s surprising that no other clubs have made approaches for Shawcross, who has been club captain since 2010.
Shawcross was a Manchester United youth player, and was at the club for six years without making an appearance. He moved to Stoke after a successful loan spell at the Potters.
Manchester United will now be forced to turn elsewhere for defensive cover, with targets including Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar. Shawcross has not commented on the rumours, but would likely be interested in a successful return to the club where he was brought up.
The centre-back will lead Stoke out against Swansea at the Britannia tomorrow.